On May 20, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán made press statements.
During the press conference, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Hungary is one of the few countries that pursues an independent foreign policy within the European Union. He stated that, given the numerous established rules and common principles, such as the EU’s common foreign policy, it is quite challenging to conduct an independent policy. However, Viktor Orbán has always prioritized Hungary’s interests above all else, and Azerbaijan welcomes this approach.
President Ilham Aliyev also highlighted the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary in the energy sector. Hungarian companies hold stakes in two of Azerbaijan’s major oil and gas projects — the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and Shah Deniz fields. A new contract is set to be signed at the beginning of next year, which will further expand collaboration in this area.
Furthermore, a Hungarian company will begin operations in Azerbaijan’s onshore oil fields. Since 2024, Azerbaijan has started exporting natural gas to Hungary, and as President Aliyev noted, the country is capable of supplying the required gas volumes, as also mentioned by Prime Minister Orbán.
President Ilham Aliyev also addressed the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that after the Second Karabakh War, it was Azerbaijan that initiated peace talks and became the author of the peace agreement draft. This draft, with some amendments, has now been accepted by Armenia, which, according to the president, is an important step toward peaceful resolution.
The President of Azerbaijan expressed confidence that the relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan are developing successfully. The two countries are friendly and strategic partners. He also emphasized that there are deep historical ties between the peoples of both countries, which form an important foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations.
